Blog

This video details step by step, how to replace the drive belt in a HP Z3100 24" printer. The same procedures can be followed for the Z2100, Z3200 and 44" models with minimal differences. It includes removing the window, top cover, front panel, front cover,...

A Lesson In Customer Service - a.k.a. What NOT To Do
So a couple weeks ago I had one of my printers go down with a fairly common routine problem, the rubber drive belt for the carriage assembly wore out. No big deal, they only last so long and need to be swapped every couple years or so depending on use, and mine certainly gets a lot of use!
HP offers an exceptional on-site warranty service program, but it's also an exceptionally large amount of money starting at several hundred dollars per year. If I was running the printer a lot more say in a dedicated production environment this would be a no brainer deal, sign me up! However I only print for myself and a relatively small selection of clients so I can't justify that kind of expense, especially when I am capable of doing just about everything myself. For giggles I checked how much this one repair would cost, and it was nearly $1,000! It included an on-site HP tech, repair, replacement, cleaning and calibration and would take a few hours to complete.

ProClipUSA.com & TomTom iPhone 4 Mount Promotional Photos I shot these promotion photographs for the ProClipUSA.com jailbreak iphone 6 website and filmed the installation of the units in to my car as a review. The units are both extremely rugged and solid, matching any OEM...

Jen & Mike got to see their wedding album for the first time tonight and take home some treats! The main album is a 14"x18"" 60 page wonder, with custom blue Italian leather covering, a metallic print insert and debossment on the cover. The layouts...

So my good friend Melissa Smith that I hadn't seen in 10 years was on her regular trip down to Florida from far northern states to try for the 5th time to see a Space Shuttle launch and called me to see if I could...

Happy 38th Birthday to Donald Dobson ;) This was a FABULOUS private party thrown together by his loving wife Noelene and WHAT a shindig it was! Valet parking for guests, bartender service, caterers, more delicious food that anyone could possibly eat! I...

I may be the last person on the planet to 'discover' smartphones, but I assure you I had my reasons. Let me start out by telling you up front if you are an experienced smartphone/iPhone user you are surely not going to gleam a shred of helpful information out of this article. HOWEVER if you are like me, keep reading, it might save you some hassle!
What is this all about you ask? Simple. I just spent the better part of a day setting up, configuring, customizing, etc. my new iPhone 4, coming from a non-smartphone. Most of that could have been better spent had certain things been better explained or designed and this is an accounting of my experience with solutions, should anyone else happen upon it.
First a little background on me, lest you think I'm just some idiot rambling about how I couldn't figure out how to install iTunes (kidding). I was an IT Manager for a decade, quit years ago to follow my dream of being a full time commercial and wedding photographer, owning BGPictures.com and CigarObsession.com. Our household consists of a desktop PC, an uber desktop PC, a PC laptop, a Macbook, a couple iPhones and a smattering of gadgets and gizmos like AppleTV,Wii, etc. I have some very custom goings on such as a home made kaleidescape system utilizing a 4TB Drobo and the AppleTV, my main editing rig with 9TB of mixed RAID storage, all watercooled, etc. I know my way around technology to say the least.
All that being said, the iPhone experience left me with some strange looks, a lot of Google searches and then some expletives directed at Apple. This is going to be in no particular order, just as things come to mind, so my aim is that someone somewhere will save some hassle in going through the same thing!
Battery life. I chose the iPhone over all the other choices based on a select few points that are very important to me, as a business owner. First and foremost battery life. I use the crap out of my phone. Notice I said - PHONE. Yes I realize that the phone is probably the last part of this handheld computer people are concerned with these days but to me, that's what I need most. The iPhone has excellent battery life and has awesome call quality - not only on my end but on the client end as well. Especially the speakerphone! Using certain features of the phone has taught me what does and does not need to be used in certain situations to preserve that great battery life. I played around with navigation/GPS the first night. After a 1 hour drive, the battery had expired 25%! OK revelation #1 - to use the navigation/GPS for anything more than a spot check - the phone should be plugged in to a car charger.

The marriage of Laura Mariani & Elliot Kendall was performed on January 2nd, 2011 and was my first of the year! Tucked away in a lush hidden spot of Seminole, FL the family property served as a picture perfect backdrop for the day, where...

Debbie and Dale were married November 7th, 2010 at the fabulous Don CeSar Resort in St. Petersburg, FL! They had an intimate ceremony in the main courtyard follwed by awesome bridals all over the grounds including the beach at sunset! The weather was perfect, the...

Wooloot stopped by again today to drop off more new products for a magazine ad! They are really cool high quality goodies, easy to carry backpacks and super soft beanies!
[gallery link="file" columns="4"]...

Dawn & Sean were married on the pristine beaches of Indian Shores, FL on 10/5/10, coordinated by Special Moments, catered by Orange Blossom Catering and flowerfied by Iza's Flowers!
[gallery columns="4"]...

Mike and Madlyn were married on 8/15/10 at the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club in beautiful Gulfport, FL! They were a BLAST to work with and so were all the fabulous vendors:
Tammy Waterman from Special Moments - Planner
Jeff Staples - DJ
Izabela Rekawek from Izas...

I was commissioned for some art shots for a new line of cigars out of Miami called Pinar Del Rio. Not only are the EXCEPTIONALLY good cigars, they also look fantastic with TOP notch artwork on the bands and boxes!
[gallery columns="4"]
...